Solar Blood Masters

Deep within the frozen forests of the 'Race of Ten Thousand Souls', a flurry of snow billowed skyward as two figures clashed.

WHOOSH! CRACK!

A colossal polar bear with a single Merit Point glowing above its head, swiped its claws with terrifying speed. This was Bai Xue. Trees in its path snapped like brittle twigs as a chilly gust of wind followed its strike, reaching out towards its nimble opponent.

Qīng Lǜ who was a green mantis of magnificent splendor and whose two Merit Points glowed above its head, adroitly leaped backward to avoid the blow. Its segmented legs moved with an effortless agility that had the frost-covered ground cracking beneath.

Bai Xue laughed menacingly, "Hahaha! Your head almost adorned my claws, little mantis!"

Qīng Lǜ smiled as it extended its long, slender arms. "You might be larger in size, bear, but what I have is SPEED!"

And with a flicker that resembled lightning strikes, Qīng Lǜ vanished, then instantly reappeared behind its lumbering foe. With a synchronized downward chop from both arms aimed at the bear's neck…

"Ice Armor!"

A layer of ice materialized and encapsulated the colossal bear in a protective shell that had those blades of the mantis skittering across its surface, leaving only faint scratches behind.

"GIVE me your points!" Bai Xue roared as it whipped around and swiped blindly with its claws that now resembled sharp black blades.

This time, however, Qīng Lǜ met the attack head-on. Its forelegs crossed, it deflected the blow with ease.

Bai Xue's eyes widened with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. "How DARE you block my attack, little mantis?!"

"Heh, don't forget bear, we're both Nightmare Calamities of the 2nd layer." Qīng Lǜ countered. It tapped the bear's chest lightly, "You might be big in size, but your skills… they are LACKING!"

This humiliation, the audacity of being scolded by a creature so small had Bai Xue's fury exploding, for surely weren't bears known throughout Yama Yaguai as masters of both strength and agility, and wasn't he, Bai Xue known as the terror of the icy mountains! How could this be?

"You dare to scold ME? You insignificant insect?! DIE!"

He charged forward! His massive form crashed into the mantis with a force that had the trees around them trembling in terror!

WHOOSH! CRACK!

Qīng Lǜ was sent flying into the frosted pines, as Bai Xue was already upon it.

However, just before his claws could claim its prize, a green glow surrounded Qīng Lǜ and in a heartbeat…

"Sage Mode – One With the Wind!"

Its form vanished from sight before reappearing beside the charging bear!

"What?! NO!"

WHAM!

A powerful kick from the mantis' legs slammed against the bear's face, sending it tumbling backwards into the trees as more snow cascaded from their lofty branches.

Bai Xue crashed through a dozen trees before finally coming to a halt, half buried in the snow.

It lay stunned, its ears ringing, but before it could even shake off the cobwebs, a terrifying sensation that had its eyes wide with dread and its heart beat like a frenzied drum in its snow-laden chest cavities had it whimpering.

It could feel it…

"Something is behind… ME?!"

And just as those words were about to become whispers…

WHAM!

"ARGH!"

Another kick landed square on its back, throwing him up into the sky like a giant, furry football as more of its pride and essence shattered, leaving a trail of snow and blood as evidence of that kick's accuracy!

He could see the clouds above now, as he flew!

Qīng Lǜ gracefully landed and watched its opponent's ungainly ascent.

Then…

BOOM!

Qīng Lǜ vanished once more!

He then reappeared high above the bewildered and slowly descending bear.

"Heh, too slow, bear!"

With those words as motivation, he coiled its lean form, gathering momentum before unleashing an attack that shattered even the snowflakes above in silent reverence.

"Cyan Hammer - Fist of Justice!"

Those legs, strengthened by that green aura, shot downwards in a devastating combination that mirrored an ancient fighting technique from the praying mantis lineage. It struck the bear's chest with a force that was both fluid and brutal.

CRACK! CRACK!

"ARGH! DAMN YOU!"

The sound of bones breaking resounded through the forest as Bai Xue crashed onto the frozen ground, leaving a massive, crater-shaped imprint of defeat and snow.

The bear struggled, "No, not yet… I can't…!"

But before he could gather the energy he needed for retaliation, a horrifying sound of something skittering on ice sent chills across his bruised snout.

"Screeeech!"

Then a green blur came slashing! It tore through his ice armor effortlessly. "My armor! Impossible?!"

"HAAA! Cyan Scythe! Taste death, bear!"

Qīng Lǜ's mantis limbs had become even deadlier! Those sharp edges gleamed ominously and within seconds…

Bai Xue's massive frame, which moments before towered over his agile opponent, was now being torn apart, sliced, diced, and rendered into a bloody mass upon the pristine snow! He howled in agony, then a few moments later, he transformed into particles of light and vanished. There was only a crater, and the faint scent of defeat lingered.

Qīng Lǜ watched, then glanced at the points above him. Now there were FOUR! Such a delicious bounty he'd earned.

Just as he was about to savor his victory…

"Hmm. It seems I've arrived at an opportune moment."

A deep, booming voice shattered the peaceful silence. Qīng Lǜ paused. Those keen insect eyes of his dilated. It seemed his celebration would have to wait, or did it?

WHOOSH!

A monstrous shadow loomed over him. He turned and his blood ran cold.

BOOM!

The ground buckled before him. He looked up to discover a golden hoof mere centimeters from crushing his delicate face.

"Damn!"

He reacted instinctively. His movements that had just earned him victory was now a savior as he flicked backwards.

"Dodge!"

He watched the hoof slam into a patch of frost. The impact pulverized it, sending icy shards flying in a deadly radial burst.

Above, perched upon a small snowy mound stood the Golden Bull Thork.

"Hmm. Such impressive agility, little mantis."

Raphael wasn't even trying to hide his presence. He stood boldly amidst the shattered trees with his massive horns sparkling, his black wings stretched and flapping lazily as he observed this skilled opponent.

"You're too slow, bull!" Qīng Lǜ hissed arrogantly. He'd faced stronger, mightier creatures. This bull, was nothing but a mere distraction.

He then noticed those six points glowing above the bull. The greed that had propelled him to the Nightmare Calamity stage came crashing down. He would steal this bull's points!

"Such a pathetic display, hiding like a coward! Surely your Solar Essence is as weak as your wings. Come now! Let me relieve you of that burden!"

"Is he mocking me?" Raphael frowned. "Try it, if you have the balls."

Then his voice hardened as he stamped a hoof onto those icy ground beneath, creating a spiderwebbed network that extended outwards.

"ELECTRIC SCALE PRISON!"

BOOM!

He'd trapped himself within a bronze cage of scales, each radiating with lightning that danced between those spaces as a deterrent.

"Trying to hide from my killer move within that dome of scales? PATHETIC!"

Qīng Lǜ didn't hesitate. This was his chance, and a free meal for his trouble! Those points would easily boost his score. The mantis lunged forward!

"CYAN SLASHER!"

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

He unleashed a furious flurry of kicks and slashes at the 'Electric Scale Prison'!

But the shield was holding!

"Damn!" He couldn't pierce it!

"Time for something a bit special." Qīng Lǜ took a deep breath and then activated his most powerful, devastating technique!

"Sage Mode - Godly Speed!"

CRACK! BOOM!

The world shifted as green energy erupted.

He became a blur!

"HAHAHA! Now…"

Those arrogant words were lost as his movements amplified a thousand-fold. He became a blur of emerald-green, darting around that scale prison, striking with terrifying might.

And as Raphael watched on, he struggled to keep up with Qīng Lǜ's assault as the air itself seemed to crackle with untold energy.

"This mantis is truly fast."

"I am Qīng Lǜ, the Godly Mantis. This speed… it is mine to control!" A smug voice echoed, but he was moving too fast for even Raphael to pinpoint his location. He was everywhere!

"Your POINTS! It will be MINE!"

Those words had him roaring back, "We'll see about that, mantis!"

Then with a final desperate act, "Sage Mode - Duplicate!"

Qīng Lǜ became four!

Each mantis, wielding razor sharp limbs that were buzzing.

"Nowhere to hide, bull!" They spoke in unison as they combined into one figure and dashed high into the sky, becoming a faint green blur, they gathered momentum and spun, sending a chill throughout those who'd seen that technique earlier, those poor souls who were now ash and forgotten memories in their wake.

WHOOSH!

Raphael looked up with dread, but deep inside his beastly core a burning hatred for arrogant fools rose. He would give this insect a truly terrifying burial.

"Cyan Driller! Dieeee!"

Qīng Lǜ descended like a tornado. His form was now impossible to see.

BOOM!

The mantis crashed down on the 'Electric Scale Prison' with unimaginable power!

The impact shattered the yellow dome, sending those razor-sharp scales flying into the nearby trees and ice formations. They cracked and crumbled upon impact with its force.

But within those shards, amidst the dissipating smoke, Qīng Lǜ stood triumphant…

Or was he?

"That's…" His cocky smile vanished as he frantically scanned the now-shattered prison.

"Where is that bull?"

From below came a voice.

"Right behind you, little mantis. Nightcrawler cancel!"

Qīng Lǜ's eyes widened as he saw the bull's forms materializing from a tree's shadow. His body moved, "Dodge!" However,

CRASH!

A golden hoof came crashing onto his delicate head. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the icy ground and crushed his form deeper.

"GOLD PRESS!"

He heard his bones snapping, felt his Solar Essence leaking, his vision dimming. It was then a chilling realization struck! It was no longer about victory or defeat in this contest.

"This is death!"

He struggled in vain against that golden hoof, but his vision was being swallowed by shadows as his last whisper of despair were meant only for the frozen air above, "This isn't speed… This is… oblivion…"

…

Raphael hopped off the mangled green remnants, and with a final sigh of content. Above him, his points were now totaled TEN!

He continued his hunt, deeper into the frozen realms.